PARK AND CEMETERY, 
241 
The annual meeting of Oakland Cemetery, bt. Paul, Minn., 
was held November 29. The president reported receipts from 
all sources for the year, including a previous balance of $629 54, 
to be I28.296.18, The sales of lots and single graves amounted 
to $11,198, and the greenhouse returned $3,842 37. The invest- 
ments of the funds of the association amount to $90,700. The 
aggregate expenditures for the jear were $25,355.90, leaving a 
balance of $2,940.28. A comparison of the reports of the past 
three years shows a steady increase in receipts. Among the 
items of receipts were: Interment fees, $1,588; tomb fees, $496; 
miscellaneous labor and foundations, $993.60. In expenditures 
the pay rolls consumed $11,873 So; general improvements, 
$275 37 ; greenhouse, $1,081.12. The assets of the association as 
per secretary’s report amount to $240,120.04, and liabilities 
$92,856.19. The superintendent's report shows ninety-four 
foundations built and twenty-one monuments and seventy- three 
markers erected, besides considerable improvement and plant- 
ing work. The average number of emplojes per month Was 
twenty- one. Interments during the year were 293, making a 
total in the cemetery to October 31, 1897, of 12.923 Sales in- 
cluded fifty-three lots and eighty seven single graves. More than 
96,000 plants were grovn in the greenhouses. 27,000 of which 
were used in the chapel and on the lawns, and over 50,000 were 
sold to lot-owners and used in 476 vases and 388 beds. Consid- 
erable improvement is awaiting better times, the income not 
warranting, in the opinion of the trustees, an expenditure ade- 
quate to the desired work. 
surmounting a terrace as it does, it forms a conspicuous object in 
the park’s development. It is located a few rods from Cottage 
Grove Avenue which it parallels, just north of the old green- 
houses, and is 420 feet long by some 55 feet in general width. A 
central and two end domes, 50 feet in height, break up its length, 
and in these domes are quartered the permanent tropical, sub - 
tropical and other rare and tall trees and plants, while the cur- 
tains, or connecting ways between them will contain the flower- 
ing plants which each season permits and which afford attractive 
features in conservatory work. The improvements in connection 
with the terrace upon which the building is erected, are not 
yet complete, but this, in connection with the lily ponds, the 
additional plant of eight greenhouses and the office and other 
buildings, will afford ample oppori unity to Mr. E. A. Kanst, the 
chief gardener, for gardening and landscape effects. The build- 
ing is heated by steam which is conveyed from the power house 
700 feet away to the south. The building itself, apart from the 
grading and terra.e work, has cost $33 000; it was designed by 
Mr. D. H. Burnham. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
The publisher is not responsible for views expressed by cor- 
respondents , but no communications will bt noticed having a 
personal nature or malicious intent. < ommunications must al- 
ways be signed , not necessarily for publication but as an evi- 
dence of good faith. 
Penn Common, or park, at Reading, Pa , one of the beauti- 
ful parks of the state has had an interesting history. It was the 
gift of William Penn to the city as a common forever and ever. 
But this fact was long lost sight of, and the auth ir 1 ties of the 
borough permitted its sale to the commissioners of Berks county, 
and the county thereafter claimed to own it. One hundred 
years ago the common was used as a place of public execution, 
with the descriptive and impressive title of Gallows Hill. About 
fifty years ago the county built on the common the stone prison, 
looking like an old Norman castle. They also used it as a parade 
ground, and later the Agricultural Society took it for exhibition 
and racing pui poses, the place being dotted over with large and 
small buildings and cattle sheds, and all enclosed by a shabby 
fence. As recently as fiity years ago it was used by the h use 
wives of the city as a washing ground. On Monday and Tues- 
day mornings the “spring"’ would be surrounded by dozens of 
busy workers. The washing was done there in company, as it is 
to day in foreign cities, the grass serving as a public bleaching 
and drying place. Finally the citizens awoke to the fact that 
the entire place, numbering fifty acres, belonged to them. The 
proper legal steps were taken, and Penn Common no.v at last 
serves its donor’s intention. 
* - * * 
Mr. Harlow N. Higinbotham of Chicago, so well known in 
connection with the World's Fair, who owns a beautiful coun- 
try residence two miles east of Joliet, 111 ., has decided to develop 
it for a park. Work was recently commenced to transform a 
400-acre tract of woods and prairie land. Work will be pushed 
as fast as possible, and the place will be beautiful with dams and 
rustic bridges. In, the spring it is proposed to stock the park 
with quail and deer. 
iff * * 
The new conservatory in Washington Park, Chicago, which 
was opened to the public a few weeks ago, with an attractive dis- 
play of plants, the principal feature being a goodly arrayof fine 
chrysanthemums, is constructed of steel and glass on a stone 
foundation, and is one of the largest of its kind. It has been con- 
structed and furnished on the latest practice in such work, and 
The Omaha Convention of the A. A. C. S. 
Omaha, Neb , November 29. 1897. 
Editor Park and Cemetery , 
Dear Sir: The executive committee of the American As- 
sociation of Cemetery Superintendents for the convention of 
1898 to be held in Omaha, Neb . appreciates very highly your 
suggestions in reference to our convention being held at the same 
t me as that of the National Convention of Undertakers in our 
city next year. There are many reasons why these two conven- 
tions should meet in joint session partof the time. At least for 
the mutual benefit of both, as we come into bu-iness relations 
with each other every day in the year. Moreover, to be able to 
effect a joint excursion to the Yellow Stone National Park would 
be the event of a lifetime for manv of us. 
# 
The committees of both conventions have had a meeting 
with thit in view, but before taking any action in the matter I 
desire to have such suggest ions from Park and Cemetery and 
any members of the association as they may be pleased to offer. 
It will, of course, be necessary to ascertain before anything defi- 
nite is done as to what number would be likely to join the excur- 
sion. 
I would suggest that the excursion start from Omaha, be- 
cause our convention requires three days to finish up its business, 
and after the business is over we cannot afford to be hurried away 
before having! an opportunity to visit the great exposition in 
progress at that time, which would take at least two days. 
The manner in which the management of the exposition is 
advancing the work on all the principal buildings, the demands 
for sp ice coming from all over the United States and Canada, 
as well as the South American and European countries and Rus- 
sia, China and Japan, leaves no doubt in our minds as to the 
magnitude of this great undertaking. As an educational feature 
this exposition will be second to none ever held in this country 
in many respects. 
I am negotiating with the railroad companies in regard to a 
special train, and will report as to time and expense of this ex- 
cursion later. f. Y. Craig. 
